To Our St. Baldrick's Friends & Family –
We are here to raise money for childhood cancer research. You hear the word cancer quite often. You see a rainbow of colored cancer ribbons everywhere you look. You see colorful rubber bracelets on peoples’ wrists, supporting all of the different types of cancer and organizations. You are familiar with cancer, but most likely haven't been formally introduced like our family was in November 2008.
Our 4 year old daughter, Sara was diagnosed with kidney cancer - Stage IV Wilms Tumor that spread to her lungs and liver. Cancer barged into our family's home and forever changed our lives. Sara endured 3 surgeries. Sara remained completely still for 13 radiation treatments to her lungs, abdomen and pelvis. Sara trudged through 33 weeks of chemotherapy. Sara had 5 different chemotherapy drugs pumped into her little, four year old body.
I tell you this not to make you sad, but for you to see where your efforts/money are going. Isn't it amazing that Sara's cancer treatment was toxic enough to kill her cancer, but gentle enough to keep a smile on her face? Cancer treatment hasn't always been this way. Besides the US government, St. Baldrick's funds more in childhood cancer research than any other organization. If not for this fundraising, cancer researchers would not be able to find just the right concoction of chemotherapy and radiation to kill the cancer, but save the child. And this time, it was our daughter Sara.
Because you care, our daughter, Sara, is 17 years old - she has a compassionate heart and a contagious smile. Sara is loving her printmaking classes, wearing hooded sweatshirts and eating sushi with friends. Sara is excited for her future - choosing a major and which college has the best sweatshirt. Because you care, Sara is celebrating 13 years CANCER FREE!
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to enjoy Sara,
Joe and Erin Martorano
Just Do It...and be done with it.
-- Sara Martorano during her cancer treatment
Donations given to the Just Do It...and be done with it Fund have generously supported the following grants a St. Baldrick's Research Grant for Dr. Rintaro Hashizume M.D., Ph.D., multiple years of the Late Effects After High-Risk Neuroblastoma – The LEAHRN Study Consortium Grant, a St. Baldrick's Research Grant for Dr. Rintaro Hashizume, M.D., Ph.D., a St. Baldrick's Research Grant for Panagiotis Ntziachristos, Ph.D., and the International Neuroblastoma Risk Group Consortium Grant led by Dr. Sue Cohn at the University of Chicago.
The St. Baldrick's Foundation is guided by a Scientific
Advisory Committee, comprised of leading experts in the childhood
cancer community, to ensure that every dollar makes the greatest
impact for kids with cancer.
These people make us smile - they’re the doers and money-raisers on behalf of Just Do It...and be done with it. They’re shaving their heads, hosting events, starting fundraisers and more to make childhood cancer research possible.
Start your own St. Baldrick’s head-shaving event to raise money on behalf of our Hero Fund! You’ll be paired with a staff member who will walk you through every step of the process, and you’ll have fun knowing you’re doing a great thing for kids with cancer.
Register to shave your head and raise money for our Hero Fund at any St. Baldrick’s event happening around the world! Not finding an event near you? Register as a virtual shavee and shave your head anytime, anywhere.
Head-shaving not your thing? You can start a fundraiser to raise money for our Hero Fund with St. Baldrick’s in a way that interests you! Like biking? Bike a marathon. Like baking? Start a cookie baking fundraiser… You get the picture.
St. Baldrick’s Foundation
1333 South Mayflower Avenue, Suite 400
Monrovia, CA 91016 USA
(888) 899‑2253 · sbinfo@stbaldricks.org
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a non-profit 501 (c)3 organization, IRS identification number 20-1173824.
Donations made to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation are tax deductible in the U.S. · Privacy Policy
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